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Sepamt-Alidrui'k hur: ^Intenwtionalos Archiv filr Ethnojmiphie" Bd. III. 189t>.
TIIK
USlH] OF MASKS AND 1 1 KA 1 )-()K\ AMENH^S
lis iHi;
xoirniw KsT COAST OF A M i:i:ic.\
BY
l)n. FlIANZ I'.OAS,
I'rnf, ill till- I'hirk IniviTsiiy, W^n'str,- I'.S. A.
(With ri.ilc II .V nil.
Our iiiiiM'iiiiis (iiHiaiii laiLTc ((illrctiiins nf masks IVuin tlic Xurtli-Wcst I'nasl nl Aiiiriica,
l)iit it is mily occasiinialiy ilial ilir .lrsi!ri|iliiiiis aiiij ciitalo^jurs u'ivr inliiriiiatidii as td their
ust) ami iiicaniiiK. On niy liisl visil fu liiitisli Culiiiiiliia . in iSMi. I paiil siiccial altciilidii
to this siilijcct. .\ ciiiisiilcialilc ciillccliiin n\' ili'awiiius aiiil |iiiutn;.'raiilis of masks, wiiicii I
CJirrifil with iin'. iliij imi lii'lji me maifiially in my invest iiraf inns. I tVeiinently siinwi'ij
the iliawin^'s to Indians whom 1 ex|iociri| to he conversant with every tinnu' n^llTi'inn to
tills snliject. lint il was nniy in rare cases that they recui.'ni/.eil tiie nuisks, and were alilo
to f-'ive an>' intiii inaticin as to their use an<l meaning'. \'ery soon I aniveil at the ceii-
clusioii , that, (i.xcepl in a \h\\ instances, the masks were no ceiiventinnal types repre-
soiitiii^ certain iileas known to the wiinle people, Imt were eiriier inventions nf the imli-
vidiials wiio nsi^d them, or that I he knowledtjo of their nifanin'-' was contined \i> a limited
numljer of persons. The tumier iiypotiiesis diil not seem prolialile, as the same types of
iiia.sks arc fnund in nnmerons specimens and in coll(;ctions made at diflonnt times and iiy
different piisons. .Vmonj: the lypi's which arc, comparatively froipiontly found, 1 mintion
the 7'.w»i/7,"(/(( '» ol the Kiciihiidl , (a typical i-epresentation of which may ho si en i" ..oiijii-
nal-M i tt lieilnn^;en aus del' Ht li noiojrisclien A lit liei in iif,' der K^rl. .•i,.seen zii
Berlin," N". 4, I'late I, Fi^r. ti, the iiaiie, eat;lc, and raven.
Further inipiiries slmwed that the prol)alHlity of ascertaining.' the meaning.' of a mask
incroiiMid wlien the [larticiilar village was visited in which the specimen was collected.
It was tliu.s that I uscorlaineil the nieaniny: of the dnuhle mask tiL'iired in Woi.kt's ,.('\>t.
.Iacousen's Roise an der Nord w(!sl kilsto Amerika's," p. 11".'. The outer face repre-
sents a deer; the; inner, a Imiiian lii<-e. It n^fers to the tradition of thenri},'iii of the (leer, which
originally was a man. luit was transloinied, mi actnunt of his inteiitiun tu kill the smi of
') A- a gutluiMl A-, almost Ac. 7 tlic (iiriiiiiii rli in liacli. s/ an fxploiliil /.
8724:i
rrclfio N. W. History Dept
PROVINOHAL. L.(BRARY
VICfOBIA, B. C,
►»V ..
2 -
the <li;ity, into its jin'soiit sha]H: At last I fbiiiid that the use of masks is rlosely connectwl
with two institutions of thi'se tiihes, - with thdr clans nr ^I'ntcs, and witii tlieir secret
societies. Tlie latter class of masks is confined to the KintLinll , Nuthi , and Tuiinshidn,
and I liolieve that they originated with tln' tirstnanied jieople. Tiie meaning of each mask
is not known outside tho f?ens or soc-city to which it helonf^s.
'I'liis liK t makes the st\idy one of threat ditliculty. It is only i)y chance that a specimen
lielonKiiiK to <ine ol our collections can lie identilieil, as only in rare exceiitions the place
whore it was purchased is clearly stated. The majority of spocimons are purchased in
Victoria, wlieie they are collected by traders, who. of course, keep no record of thouroriKin.
]',esides this, the Indians are in the hahit of trading masks, and copying certain
modtds which strike their fancy from neighboring tribes. Tho meaninR of these .si)ecimens
is, of course, not known to tho \)<;n\>U; wiio use it, and it is necessary to study first the
source friMu which such carvings were deriveil. Thus the beautiful raven rattles of the
Tsiiiixliiaii are frcMiut^ntly imitated by the Kwakiiill , and the l)eautifully woven Chilcat-
blankfis are useil as far south as (,'omox. The carved head-dresses of the T.siwsliidii , the
Aiiihiildi'l (used in dance.s), with their attachment of ermine-skins, are even used by the
natives of Victoria.
My in(|uiries cover the whole coast of British Columbia. In the e.xtrenni northern part
of this region a peculiar kind of mask, which has been so well describcil by Kh.klsi;, is
used as a helnnd. I do not think that this cu.stom extends very far south. Setting this
aside, we may distinguish two kinds of masks, dancing masks, ami masks attached to
house-fronts and heraldic columns.
The latter are especially used by tribes of Ktvakhitl lineage and by the Bihinlu. All
masks of this kind are clan masks, having reference to the crest of the house-owner or
post-owner. They are generally made of cedar-wood, and from three to five feet high. One
of the most beautiful specimens 1 have seen, is a mask of the sun, forming the top of an
heraldic column in Alert Hay. Vancouver Island. It belongs to the chief of the gi'Us .S'*'
unillr of the Xiiiikish tribe. The latter is the second in rank among the triijos of the
l\iriil,-iiitl group, which form one of the subdivisions of the linguistic stock of the same
name. The clan claims to be descended from the sun, who assumed the shape of a bird,
and came down from heaven. Ho was transformed into a man, and settled in the territory
of the Niiiiki.-<li ti'ibe. The name of this mask is Thsihtkiiiiill (si..;-mask, from //-' .seta,
sun; itiinill. mask). It has a bird's face, and is surrounded by rays. Certain clans ot
the Biliiitltt have the mythical Masiiiasnld'niq, covered by an immense hat, on the tops of
their house-fronts; luit tlu' use of masks for this purpose is, on the whole, not very extensive.
In order to understand their meaning and use, it is net'cssary to investigate very
thoroughly the .social organization of each tribe, and to study these masks in connection
with the carvings represented on tlu' posts and beams of the houses and with the |iaintiugs
found on the housefronts. Thus the Kinikiiitl proiier are thi' highest in rank among the
group ta which the XiwkMi belong. They are divided into four groups, which rank as
follows; first, the Km' hhi; next the A'-'o' iiio/iik or Kiic' i/a (the latter being their war
name); then the Lo' kiiililn : and linally the \V(ila><kirakiiitl. Each ofthe.se is divided into
a number of dans, some of which, however, belong to two or three of these divisions.
1 shall mention here the divisions of the Kw' tela only, again arranged according to rank,
and shall aiid tlieir princijial carvings.
8
- 8
1. 'I'lic niilile.st clan is tliat of MalnlnlK. Their ciiiif wiais a mask it'iircsi'iiting \\>\\
gull, and they use also masks nf animals it'incsmtin^,' llic tiHid of tlic i:nll. Tlirii- hcams
are not carveil.
2. Kwdkwn' k'lon. Tlio posts sn|i|iortinL; llio lirams of tlw iionsc rrpn'scnt the f,'risly
bear, on top of wliicli a crane is sitting'. 'I'lieir mask represents the crane.
H. (hii'iisini. Tlieir i»ost represents a irane standin
a man s iiead
4. 1.1
ithUi
(jn' riiil' ((ill. who aro the servants of the Kifuhnn' Irnm. Their post i>
kill
er
(Dt!l|)lnnus Orca) with a man's hotly.
T). Si'xiiitir (the same clan as that of the Ximlii.sli)
leir carxiiit; is the sun. Besides
this, they n.sf a dug's mask, representing the doi; which aecompanied the snn when he
was transforinod into a man. the Tsdiiu'lriiii . and se\eral other car\iiit.'s.
Kacli clan has a niimlier of secondary carvings which have reterenre to the traditions
relating the adventures of its ancestor.
As will lie seen from this list, the endilems are also usotl as ilatniim-masks. The use
of masks for this purjiose is spread all over the coast, Iming found anioni; the T/ini/il as
well as among the trilies near Victoria; hut among the hitter very tiw types of masks
are used, and it is the privilege of certain tribesand clans to wear them. <Mi Plate 11 iV HI a
nundier of these masks are icprescnted. before discussing tlieir meaning, I have to say a
few words as to the use of daiicing-masks.
Wo may distinguish two da.s.ses of daiicing-inasks. - those peculiar to the several clans,
and those helonging to secret societies.
The former are of two different kimls, - masks used at the ixitlutiii (the festival at
which property is given away), and masks used for the mimical pert! irinances in winter,
when dances representing the traditions of the clans are acted. Masks iiiust not he used
in sunimor and during daylight, except the jinllatch masks. The latter ari- worn hy {'hiefs
in the dance opening this lestival. After the guests have arrived, the chief who gi\i's the
festival ojiens the ceremonies hy a long dance, in which he wears the principal mask of
his gens. Thus the chief of the gens Si'xiiitic of the Kinikinll uses the sun or the Txoini' Irati,
w'hicli is exactly like Fig. 4, Plate 1 in N". 4 of the ,.(»riginalmittlieilnngt;n", e.Nce|)t that it
is all black, and has no marks repre.senting copperplates on its iheeks. Other masks of
this kiml repri'seiit the ancestor of the clan. Thus 1 found a mask reiiresenting XntiKm
(= the old one), PI. Ill Fig. U) the hiotheiof the raven, uspil hy the chief ot a dan of the 'nnnil.si.s,
of which lie is the ancestor. A tinv gentes do not always use masks at such occasions,
hut have larw jiosts representing the ancestor, which are hollowed out from liehiiid. The
mouth <if such a post forms a speaking-tube, through which the chief addresses the assc'inhly,
thus acting the part of his ancestor.
By far the most interesting masks ate those used in the winter dances. The KiaikhiU
and all the neighlioring tiibes which belong to tlit; .same elhnolot;ical group have two
different kinds of winter dances, — one called Yn' wiqa by the Kirukiufl, Xn' nllcin by the
TIdtlitsik'iiala, Tlniiht'ijii hy the U'ik'i' iiok, and Si.sdii'kh by the liiliiuht; the other called
Taa' ik'u, 7'w' tsu' ik-d, or Tlnk-oa' Id, and Kn' xiitf \>y the same sejiarate tribes.
The former dance takes place during the month of November among the southern tribes,
early in October among the Bilip a. The latter is danced from December to I'ebruary by
the Kirakiiill, and from November to .lanuary liy the liihinlu.
The masks on Plate III aie used in the dance Simm'klt of the Hih/iila. Nos, 1 and 2
9
- 4
ropresciit the mj'thical h'-oiii'i'ton iiml his wile, h'niiiii'k'ni is a scii-monstor, tlic fatliiT
ami iiia.slcr nf tlic soals, wlm tal<(^s tjiosc wlio liavc (ii|isiz<'i| in liieir caiiofs to tliu liotlnm
(pC III!' sia. Til's liciii;.' |ilays a vriv iiii|Miitani |iail in tlie io^iemls nf many clans, niarryin«
a ilau^litcr ot tlic ancrstor. or jeiiilin^' liini liis iMiwcif'nl iidii. 1 liciirvc tiicsi Ic^ciiils
(iri^;inaliy liclnn^'eil In tlio Kirnl.lnfl , anil lia\'(' liccn liuii(i\v((i liy tlic Hiliinla. '\'\\v nanio
Kiiii.ii'kdii is iiniliiiililc-i||y iif Kiiiili-iiill origin : it lias also lici'ii Imirowcd liy tlic ('ullu'ltij .
the sontlidii nri^'liliois of tlir Kirakinll. TIk^ masks aid iist-d in sfvciai mimiral iMiloiniaiiccs.
l''i(;s, o and \ lii'lon^; to^'ctlicr. Tliry liclon;,' to a clan in whose liistoiy K-nnin'/riiii
plays an iMi|ioilaiit |iart. K-<iiiin'lrnii liad nianinl a ;;iil. and llio adventures oC iheir son
are acted in the dance. The yoimi; man [V'vj.. .ii calls tlie eajile (Fij,'. 4) and asks liiiii to
carry him all over the world. The eaj:le comiijies with his requests, and on retmniiiL' the
yoim^ man tells his e.\|i(iriences, liow he had visited all countries and |)eo|p|es. and I'oiind
them not to he leal men, bnt halt liiiman, halt animal. This hitter idea is widely spread
anion;; the inlialiit.ints ot iht^ North-West (.'oiist.
The iie.xt Hgnre (oi is the mythical M(iniii(iniilii'iii<i. 1 have tieateil of these myths on
a previous occasion (see (ilolms. vol. Lllli. The special mask leprc'sented here is used
in a dance in vvhicli Miisnidxtilit'iiiii ajipears in his house, at the entrance uf which stands
his inesseii«er, AUt/iiln' hinim. who calks, anil aiiiiouiKcs the arrival of tlie various dancers,
the Thnnderliird . the Sinin' ilr (the Tsnnnlr'an of the lii/i/nlnj. ami others, Lnt'ortuiiately
1 was iinaMc to uliiain this mas!;. It represents a linman face, covered with parallel
stripes which inn from the upper left side to the lower ri^jht side of the tiice. and are
alternately red and hliK;. lie carric's a baton painted in the same way.
ri. Ill I'i;:, ti is prohahly not used in the Sisiiii'l;h, hut helon^is to t\H\ jMitlatrh. It is a
headornaiiient in the shape of the killer (Delphimis Orca). Only the head, the tail, and the
tins are ie|iresented, 1 was told that the idea of the head-dri'ss is to reiiresent this whale
as a canoe, the red horns hein« the jiaddles. Although this idea coriespond.s to s./me .'Xtent
to the myths of the neighborin;,' tribes, 1 doubt the correctness of this exi)lai. '.tioii. The
horns, it will be seen, form a crown similar to the crowns of copper horns and 'iiouiitain-
f;oat lionis u.sed by the Tfiiiiisliiaii anil Hithhi: and 1 believe our specimen is an 'mitation
of the latter,
Althou^'li the last three li^'ures are rather poor specimens of carving autl paiitin;;,
they nevertheless command considerable interest. The round mask (Fi;:, 7) represems the
spirit Ainililtii'l.s'iii , and is used in thi' dance opcminu; the Si.sini'bh. Three sjiirits - Atliiml;-
tdui'lx, .\'(iiiiix(l;iii'ii , and AiiiiHI;ii'l>i'ai -~ are said to live in the woods, Thron;;ii their help
men acipiin^ the art of daiiciii;;, and wh()S(jever wishes to become a wod dancer invokes
Alhiiiil.'liidi'l.s III help him. It is said that they live in a sulilerraneaii lod^e dn;; out by
yiiiiii.sikiic'ii. From Feliruary until October they stay in this house, but then they leave
it and approach the villa;,'es. As soon as they, and more especially AiiHlikii'tn'ai , api)ear,
the danct' Si.sdii'/;!/ be;,'iiis. Their apperam-e is the subject of the lirst mimical iierformaiice
of the danc'n^ seasiai. ,\ man wearing' this ma.sk wails outside the hou.ses, and asks
everybody whom he encounters why he does not dance, and tlirou;,di his presence instigates
him to dress up and make his appearance at the ^reat dance which is celebrated at ni;;ht.
PI, 111 Fi^. s represents the half-moon. The mask is used in a dance together with the
new and full moons. The mask is worn liy a woman, and the being she represents is
named Ainliiliihi.
lU
I'l
■■'mm
— i)
(l
Fin. it liMs tilt' sliaiie of tlio wcll-kiiciwii iii|.]MTiil!it<'s wiiic li arc so lii^;lily valm-il mi
the Nditli-Wcsl Coast. Its naini' is Tin' lin (chiiim r|iliil('i. Tlit> lnu'ciul In wliicli this mask
refei's Kiys Miat a man went iiiln a ilistaiit (niintiy i.i sianh tiir a witi'. At last hr met
Till' lid, tli»' inistirss iif (lie I (i|i|icrplalis. lie iiianiril Inr. aiiil it was thus tliat thrv
lifst caiiii' to iir known to Ihf Hihinlit.
1 sail! alioV(\ tlial tliis danco of llic HHiiiiln < iirirs|ionils lo thr S'l'nllriii of Hie 'I'/kI-
liisik' iKilii. Tlic (loulilc mask liunitd on |i. li".i o|' Woi.nr's lionk. wliic h I mi'ntionnl aliovc.
lii'lon^s to tliis ilancf, In iln' villa^ic ihiinln'-s/h . wliirli is icimnionly lallcil and siicllcd
Newftii liy i;iit;iisli tradt is. I collccti'd a whole set of siuli masks, ii'incsfnliii^ .Jlic frasi
of till' raven." This collection has been de|Misiied in (lie lioyal i';ilmo|o;.'ical Museimi at
IJeilin. The ceiitial 11^'uie is the raven, to whose hKe two mo\alile winirs arc attached,
Tho other li^;iires represent animals which lodk piirl in the feast. The lirst part of the
daiKc represents the raven catcliiiij; tln' salmon, which is latc^r mi fried. The animals are
invite(| to partake in tlu! meal, and the events of this feast an^ represented in the ilaiice.
it was mi thai oicasimi that they received their preseiil Hnni. while lit'l'me they had lieen
hall'liuman l>ein;:s.
.\t the end oi' tin; Sn'nlliiii s(^ason the 'I'sn' ihi he^iiiis. IHirin^' this season ih(\ whole
trilie is dixided into a numlier of uroiips, which form stjcret .societies, Ammi« the Kmikiiill
1 ohserved seven groups, tho principal of which is called the Mr' niilrniil. To this ^rmip
helmif.' the lla'iiiatx'a, the crane, the lln' tinni . ;,'risly hear, and ilu' Su'lliiiiall. The lirst,
Hccoiid, and thinl of thesis are the ,,iiiaii-eaters". The other ^'lonps are llie followin;^:
2. Ivi>l"iisl;i' iiKi, wlio are formed hy the old men.
;^. Miui'iiiii'i'iKit (the killers), who are formed hy the yoiin;^ men.
4. Mii'iiiiitis (the dams), the marriiMl women.
."). K-it'lniw (the partriilnes), the uniiiarried a'nls.
t). Ili'iiirik- (tiKKse who eat contiiuially), the old chiefs.
7. IvrLi'i/dldlr (the Jackdaw), the (children.
Every one of these Ki'onps ha.s its separate feast, in which no memher of another t,'roup
is allowed to partake; tiut hefore heKiniiiii^' their feast they must send a dish of food to
the Hdiiidlx'd. At the opening of the ti'ast the chief of the j,'rou|i for instance, of the Ivi'
k-do — will say, ,.The partridges always havi' something' nice to eat", and then all |iee|) like
partridges. All these ureups try to offend the Mi'milnxd , and every one of these has
some particular ohject hy which he is otlended. The ;::risly iiear must not he shown any
red color, his preference Ijcinu black. The Xu'lliiiml/ ;iiid crane do not like to hear a nose
iiieiitioiied , as I heirs are very long. Sometimes the Ibrmer try to induce men to mention
their noses, and then they burn and smash \vhate\cr they can lay their hands on. Kor
example: a Sn'tlvniall blackens his nose. Then the people will say, ,.t>h, ymir luiad is
black!" but if somebody should happen to say, ,,\VluU is the matter with yoiir nose?"
he would take otfence. Soinetiiues thi\v cut o|f the ,.noses" (jf canoes because of their name.
The Xii'tlcindtl must be as tilthy as ))ossible.
Sometimes a chief will give a feast to which he invites all these groups. Then nobody
is allowed to eat before tlie ll(('nidts'a has had his share and if Ik; shoidd doi'line to
accept the food offered to him, the feast must not take place. After he has once hitien
men, he is not iillowed to take part in feasts.
The chief's wife must make a brief speech before tiie meal is .served. She has to say,
11
(■
— rt
^I tli.iiik you (111- ((Piiiiiit.'. Mo mciTV and I'lit ami ilriiik." If she should make a mistaki^
tiy doviatiriK linni tin' tininula, slic lias to KWf aiiotlH'r I'casf.
The tlrst- (if tlics<' classes, tlui Mi'rnii'oal, ar<i a real nest of secret societies. I tailed
In mijii ;i full umlerstandiiiK of this sulijoct, which offers one of the most interestiu;; hut
at till' saUH' time innst ditlicull iimlileins of Xnrth-VVest American ethnology. I am parti-
cularly iti iloulit as to in how tiir the secret societies are inde|iendont of the ('lans. It
seeius to me, from what I was aide to learn, that the crests (jf the clans ami tiie insi<:nia
of the secret sottietios are aci|uire(l in tli(! same way. Thev are oldained liy marriage, if
a man wants to olitain a certain carv■in^' or the luendiersliii) of a secret socit^ty. ho must
marry the ilaunhtdi' of a man who is in possession of tins carviuR or is a niemljor of the
secret .society; hut this can lio done only hy consent of the whoh* trihe, who nmst declare
the candidate worthy of iieconnni,' a nieniher of this society or of ac(|uirintr that crest.
In tlie sjime way the chieftaincy of one of tlie.se .societies devolves upon the luishand of
the chief's daughter. If the chicsf of a certain clan or of a secn^t .society has no daughter,
a sham iiiania^re is c(!leliratcd hetweeii the cliief's son and the future chief. But in some
instances, tlu; d.in^'hter oi- son succeeds immeiliately the father.
The ceremonies are as foilous. When it has Ih'cu decided that a man is worthy of
aciiiiiiim: a crest , he sends messengers to his intended wife's fatht^i- to a.sk his |icrmis-ioii
to marry the ^'iil. If the tiitlier consents, he demands fifty hlankets, or more, accordin^j;
to his rank, to lie paid at once, and doiiliie the amount to he jiaid three months later.
After these two payments have lieeii made, the youiij,' man is allowed to live with his
wife in liis parents-ill law's house. There he must live threti mouths, and, after having
paid a hundred lilaiikets more, is allowed to taKe his wife to his own home. Sometimes
the ;,'iiTs fiither receives a> iniicli as five hundred Idankets in course of time.
WIkmi the yoiuii,' man comes to live in his fiither-in-law's li<iu.se, the latter returns
the titty hlankets which tnrnied the first instalment of the payment for the tiirl. At this
timo the yoiiii'^ man ^'ives ,i fi'ast (without ^riviiif,' away hlankets). and on this occasion
the old man states ,if what time \w intends to return the rest of the jiayment. DuriuK
this feast the youiif; man rises, and in a lony; speech asks his wife's father to give him
his cnwt (carvinjis) and name. The father must comply with this request, and announces
when he is piinjj; to transfer his rank and diiinity. This is done at a p;reat festival. I am
not t|uite sure whether the whole trihe, or the clan alone, takes part in it. The father-in-
law takes his coppcu' and formally makes it over, tojrether with his name and carving:,
t<i the youn;,' man. who presents the quests with lilankets.
These filets are derived from infiirmation which I olitainod in OuDita'aiir (Newetti),
Fort Uupert, and Alert Bay, and from a thorough study of the traditions of these trihes,
in which the memhership of secret societies and carvinf;s, are always ohtained hy marriage.
Notwithstanding this, the man who is thus entitled to heconie memher of the secret
society nmst lie initiated.
The memhers of these societies, when performing their dances, are characterized by
liead-di'e.s.ses and certain styles of painting, some of which are represented on Plate II, as
1 found them u.sed hy the 'riatlanituala.
The most important among them is the Hfi'mats'a (derived from ham to eat). I have
descrilied his initiation in the first numlier of the ,.Journal of American Folk-Lore," p. ."j8,
and shall tontine myself here to a brief description of his attire. The new HiVmats'a
12
Mmmmmm
(Uuicos four nisjhts, - twice witli liiiKs nflKMiilnck hnmchi's, twice with nn«s i>f codiii-liiiik
wliicli lias liocii (lyoil n'll. Strips of cc(l:ii-li;nk aiv tied into liis imir, whicji is covimimI witii
eauio-iiowri. His Ihco is iiaiiitnl nlack. He wears tliroe neck-riiins of cedar-liaik anaii-;ei|
as siiowii ill I'i. 11 Fi«. 1 :i and eacli of a separate desi^-ii. St rips of ledariiark are tied around
liis wrists and ankles. He dances in a sipiatliiiu' position, his arms extended to one side,
as thon^h he wore carrying a corpse. His iiands ,ire IrenihlinK continnally. First he extends
his arms to tiie left, then lie Jumps to the iiy:lit. at the same time moviii« his arms to
the ri^iit. His eyes are starint;. mul his lips inntrudinu' voluptuously. 'I'lie new lliniiiitK'n
is not allowed to have iiiti>rcoiuse with anylMMly, Imt must stay tor a whole yoar in his
rooms. He mnst not work until the end of the tollowinu' danciiii,' season. The IIu'iiihIk'h
innst nse a ki^ttle, dish, and spoon of their nwii for four months after tiie dancing season
is at an end; then tln'se are thrown away, ami they are allowed to eat with the rest of
tli(^ trihe. DnriiiK the time of the winter dance, a pole called hii'mspi,! is erected in the
hou.so where the llu'malKH lives. It is wound with red-cedar hark, and made so that
it can he made to tnrn round, fiver the eiilraiice o| the house a riii^' of red cedariiark
is fastened, to warn oft' those who do nut lieloii;; to tin' seciet societv. The same is d(Mi(>
liy the other secret societies, eacli usini,' its peculiar ornament.
Another society is called Md'niuk'n. Tln^ initiation nf a new memlier is exactly like
that of the Hu'iiititu'd. The man or woman who is to hecoine Mu'mnlr'n disappears in the
woods, and .stays for several months with Md'undr'n , the spirit of this j;idup, who f,'iveH
iiiin a nia^ic staff and a small mask. The staff is made of a wooden lulie and a. stick that
fits into it, the whole hein^ covered with cloth. In dancint;, the Minnak.'a carries this
staf!' hetween the jialms of his Iiands, which he pre.s.s(!s against each other, moving,' his
arms at the same; time np and down like a swimmer. Then he opens his hands, soiiaratin^'
the palms, and the .stick is seen to ^row and to decrease in si/e. Wluiii it is time for tht^
new Mii'iiKtlr'a to return from the woods, the inliahitants of the villat,'e no to search for
him. They sit down in a s(|uar<> somewhere in the woods, and sin^ four new souths. Then
the new Mn'mak-'a ai)pears, adorned with hemlock hranches. Wliili; the Hd'nia/n'a is ^'iven
ten companions, the Mn'mak-'a has none. The same nis^lit he dances for the first time.
If he does not like one of the son^;s, he shakes his stalf, and immediately the spectators
cover their heads with their hlankets. Then he whirls .lis staff, which strikes one of thr)
spectators, who at once hesiiis to hloed profusely. Then Ma'mat'a is reconciled hy a new
son},', and he pulls out his stalf from the stricken man's lioily. He mu.st pay the latter
two blankets for this perforiiiaiice, which, of cour.se, is at,'ree(l upon heforehand. The
attire of the Ma'mak-'a is shown in I'I, H l"i^'. 4. His face is painted hlack, except the chin
and the ujiiter lip.
The Ola/a (PI. H Fij;. oi is another iiienilier of this ^jroup. The braid on the rif,'ht side of
his head is made of red cedar-bark. He also wears a neck-rinK, and strips of bark tied
around his wri.sts and ankles. Tiiis fijznre is jiarticiilarly reniarkaljh', as the Tsimsliinn
desi!j;nate by this name the Ha'maln'a. Undoubtedly Hie Ola/a was acipiired by Hiem throu^^h
intermarriage with the Hriltsnk (erroneouslv called IMa Brlhi). Tlnjy will the Olala also
Wihalai't (= the great dance).
The La Inmj represents the ghost, lie wears black eaglefeathers (I'l. II Fig.Hi in a ring
of white cedar-bark, to winch fringes are attached which cover his face. He wears shirt
and blanket, andai)lain ucck-ring niadoof rod cedar-liark, PI. H Fig. I without any attachments.
- H
III' (iiiiifs ii lattlr, I'l. II I'it:. 7 \vlii( li K |]|i>..iit> an fii^'lc, anil i^ aluiiit a Ibot li>nn. IIi'iIih'h
niif ilani')'. I>nt lli's linwn, nnly Hliaklnu hi!* rattii'.
Till- .s'/7/V (I'l. II Kit'. Hi when ilaminL' lanii- a Innu' Inlw nf MiftnitMl k<'l|>. i loscij at mie
siili' liy a pii'if i>\' wuml, in his ninulli. Siiilii''iily lir lir^iiiN In Mnw it ii|i, ami tln' tulx)
iK^iris til umw out nf Ills inmitli, icproHcnthnj a snaki'.
Till' 'IVi'li'iiis (I'l. II Kiu'. iti lariiis a meat niiMilifc nf small wliistli's iinitatiim the viiici-s
ot liinls. Tlif Tli'ijiiliiif is ii'ini'scnliil in I'l. II I'it'. H>. Me wcats a civca IhmiIiIicss. anil his
ffcniiis is till' spirit Wi'mildkiiiM. Tin' laltic livrs uii thr sea. riiiiliinially tiavi'ljiim in a
lioai. It' a man happiiis tn sc.' him. ln' tails sick. Wn'liiinnn . anulln'C IL'inc n|' thfso
(lanrcs, weal's a iMnnl nf H'll it'ilai-hark . lisiim tVnm tln' miililli' part ul' his tini'lirail, Ills
fail' is paiiitcil all l>lark.
All thi'si' (li:m<'s Ih'Ihiik In thf Mi'iinlrmif , cvci'v oni' npitisriitiim a riass pratfrti'il
by a coitaiii spirit. .\s thr mi'anin>„' ul' thisc ilam-rs is kipl sccict hy thr Mirirlics, it is
('.Ntiijiiily ijitliriijt 1(1 cililaiu any inl'iiinaiinn as in tlcir simiillcunce. HjuIi tlmir'ti has ii
smiK iii'iiiliac tn itsrit; hnt thi'si' sciiiL's, 111' wliii Ii I nlitaincil a nmsidi'ialilc ninnlM'i-. ilo
imt riiiivry any inliiiinatinn . as they aic iiulhin;,' luil l"iastt'iii aniiiinnnini'iits nt thi' pciwn-
anil ii'iji.wn of I'arli ti;;nii'.
I iniliiatnl almvr that raih nt' these ll^im-es has a p(M'iiliai' way nf ilaiiiin^'. .\ ilcsciip-
lion III 11(11' 111' these ilanies may he ul' interest I'ntiirtnnately I dicl not see it ntysell'. Imt
the intiiKnatiiiii was iiliiaineil t'lnm a native '. iiin I lia\e icasun to rnnsiijei' tcnstworiliy.
lie said:
..hniini,' tile ilallie Txk' ilni the whistles Ts'i'hiih/dlil . whirll lliakrs lllnse wllu heal'
its sdiiiid happy, and Tliiii'iK ace I'lcipienlly used. Winn the daine 7'o'(////7 is In he peclliiiiied,
these whistles are heaid in the winuis and in the lianrinL'-liniise. .\ cinlain is put dp ((ear
the lice, si'iiaratin;; a siii.ilj cncnii tVniii the main iiall, ainl in tlie evening; all a.sseinhle to
witnt'ss the dance. Several ila((iers hide iM'hind the i((rtai((, while olheis lit>at titne with
lifiivy stirks mi the iimf and <>u the walls nl the hii((se. I>((riiii; tliis ti(((e the whistle.s
are silent: Iml as simim us iln men dii the n mi slop healiirj lime, the whistles are heard
aj.'ai(i. Now the ai[ilii'((ie liej;in heatinL' time with stirks, at (lie same li(((e sin^^ini:, ...\ !
Ai! ail ail aia ainl" the tone Inin',: drawn down t'dKn a hit^h key, down thron;,'l( an mtave.
'ri(e(( Inur wii(([en ((lake llieir appeaiaine. their hair lonihed so as to entirely hide their
fans. They ^^o aronnd the lire, and disappear liehind tlie eiirtain. .Mler t'onr soniis are
snnj,', the iliii'l' dei'lares that they have disappeared in the woods.
..'I'lie t'ollowi(n: ila>' ("eiylMMly mi'ii, wixnen . and rliildreii is iinitrd jiy one
man or another, and ilirv danie with masks. The ne.xt ((iornin;4 all ^o into the woods to
look foi the to([r Women. Tiny siiiL: limr new somrs. and then the woi((e(( n(aki' their
appi'aia((i'i'. Thoy have heromi! (he MniiKilru. K'l' niiiinlrs . Iln'iintls'ii . and T'l'iinil, The
latter (((lives only very little when dani i((i:. She holds her elhows pressed lirmly ai.'ainst
her sides. The pahns ol' her hands are iniiU'd upward, and she (((oves tlii'((( a little upward
i((id downward. She siniis. ..Y;\. ya . ya 1" and wears a nerklil of lie((ilo(k liraiuhes. The
tiuir Women ne.xt no home, a(iiin[|ia((ii'il liy the crKwd. \Vi(e(( Tn'iiiiit i((l('rs the hniiso,
the aiidieiiii' heat time with a rapid moveiiieiit. She liej-'ins to lianee: and when, after a
short ti(((e, she cries, ..Whip, whip, whip" the piople stop sint,'iiiy; and lieafint; time.
Four ti((ies she r((ns triiipinu' around the lire, forward a((d backward, holding her hands
as de.scriliod ahuve. Then she tm((s round, a([d (((oves her arnis in the .same way as
14
- « -
Mn'miilcd (sec |i. \'.\). Tliiff liiiifs she ii|n'iis her h:inils. tivini; In nlitiiiii liiT wliistli' IVoiii
lllT Sliirit, lull silc lino llMt sIKrcd Ulllil lllf ImIIIIIi lilllr. Sll.' wllil !> tile wlllstit' atl.llll.st
till' iMiii|ilo, Willi jniiiiiiliiiicjv >l<iii|i uikI foVfi llnir li(;iil> with ilicir lil;iiikft.s, coiilliiiiin«
111 lii'iil lliiic. Allir a nIii"I IIiih' Hh'V uiu uvit tjicir tliirs lo sec svlml /''•i/h/V Iims lu'cii
ijoiiiu'. II is sii|i|Hisril tli.il iiif.iiivvliiji lici' Ki'iiiiis is Willi Ikt, ami as a siun u| his iikisciki'
sill' liiijiis a liii'/i' lisli ill Inr liaiiils, '),■■ then lakrs up a knili' ami iiils it in lwi>. iiDiiir-
ilialcly il is tiaiisliiniinj inln Ci'ilim. i;i. liiii'l' nf ilir i|iiiil>li'lii'ail)'i| snakes, ll ^mws ra|iii||y
ill icn^'lli, iniivi's aJKiiK' IIh' llmir, ilimh. ijic |i.imIs uj' ilic limisf, aiHJ lliially ilisap|pt'ais mi
llic lieams.
„Niiw llii' aiiiiii'iiri' lii'iiiii •,((••• iiiMfo t" lual timi'. luvcrini.' tlifir fares. (1n lunkiiin
up. Ilii'v si'c S'li'iilliiiiUijilii liv llio siilc ( r the T'l'iiiiit . liainiiij; ami wiiisliinj;. Sinidciily a
t.'iiil ali^lils nn '"is lieaij. ami smiii i-som u^aiii. tarryiiiK liis licail."
.\ li'W spnjini'iis 111' Mil' Smniniik'iiln ari' in IIh' ciillriliiui al Hcilin, and hih' iii'iii' I
liavi' siM-i in Wasliiiiuinii, || is a small wimiicn liuiiii'. riidcly rarvt'd, wil.ii ninvialilr
arms and Icks. 'I'Ih' li;.'iirr is iiciicitlv Hal . Iiijiit: slmwii iiiil> in rnuil view. Tiir lirad is
a Hal disk, I'l. II \''\\i. It liislcncd liy incansnra pin In liic Imdy. Tln'i'visaii' iiarinw. ;ind I wn
lirnad lines iiiade nf mii a iiiii \eiliiall\ dnwiiwaid heluw llie eyes. The iiair is made urinislii Is
of liuiiian hair. Niinieniiis niiriianiial deviies of lliis kind, innveij liy invisihle striii^;.s, are
u.sed in Ihe wiiiler dames.
The winter daiire is nunimleil hy ilir Tsu'ilrniiill (= T-^n'ilriiiinisI:). This con .cidiiiu
cereimmy I rniind in use as well aiiiniii.' liir l\'il:'''ii<ilr as ,i!miii« the 'riullnsik'oulti and
Kind-iall. The llist eall il lln'xImiiH; the i'sl HiiIhIH.ikiikii. When the lime uf this
dance appitiaijies, Die Wili'i'imlr erect a lartie sealtiild in tiie middle |iarl "t Ihe rear
wall 111' the lnHise. mi whiili llu'xhii'il is daiieid by a eliiers daii^htor. The scalfnld is
liiiill liy I'liiir iliiel's. lis pdsts are lied tnKelhor with red and white codarhark. .\ shaman
stands in the dimr nf the hmise. his duty heiiisi to annminee the arrival i<\' llie damir,
Annther sits in the lefi nar mrinr mi the iilalfmin i>\' the limise, playing the drum Twn
more stand tn the ii;.dit and left of the .scalfnld, and nmvo their iiand.s slnwly Inwards the
dancer. When the dainer enters the hnuse. the spectators must cover their heads with
their hlankets. Wlmever dnes nnt nliey this law must |iay lier a certain numlier nf lilankeis.
Tiio spectators sit in the front part of the hmiso, and accomjiaiiy her dauci! with smi;;s
and lioatiiit; time. The scalfnld is distmyed aftei' Hd'shtiiitl lias danced fnur nitihls. This
is the end nf the winter daiicos; and noitlier tho Hii'ukiIhii nor the Xii'tlniKttI , llii'
Mti'mairn, imr any of the other tii.'ures ,ire .allowed to cmitimie thoir practices, their privi-
leges only reviving' at the lie^'inninj,' nf the tollnwing dancing season.
i
15
r
INT ARCH f ETHNOGR
Bdi. I!: TAK 11
SA^ 'jrf* ^VKi'wa^X ' . >*. - Al.
^mfmrnim hi i h. m,. i miji iii^i iibiuiijini^U-i I;'" UfVPRRilimMHP
T
>^ INT.ARCH.F ETHNO&R.
Bd III TAK II.
■*fi-
aucL del .
P.W.MTi'ap exc.
4
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m M? TAF '.n
1
i^rtk i'lup ticc.
MMMMMl^H^l^n
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INT.ARCHF. RTHNOGR
Dd III TAF. Ill
awot.del
PWM.Trap.exe.